Cybercrime can be defined as “any criminal activity in which a computer (or networked device) is targeted and/or used. Fast-paced technological innovation and widespread and increasing accessibility of ICTs, including high-speed Internet and mobile devices with Internet connectivity, have transformed societies around the world along with the increased vulnerabilities of different sections of the societies to cyber crime, including children and senior citizens.

Threats To Children Due To Cybercrimes

According to UNICEF estimates, 71% of the total young population in the world is on the Internet. Moreover, one out of every three active users on the net is a child. These cybercrimes can severely affect one mentally, psychologically, and emotionally.

1. Children, in particular, have increased access to ICTs and, in recent decades, have tended to adopt these technologies from an early age, resulting in ICTs becoming thoroughly embedded in their lives.
2. The above context facilitates opportunities for the misuse of ICTs to abuse and exploit children. Children can easily engage with strangers and exchange large data files, while the possibilities for parental supervision and monitoring are restricted.
3. Children are also at particular risk as they often do not fully understand threats associated with the use of ICTs, or are not sufficiently aware that, once shared, control over such material is effectively waived.
4. Threats like Cyber Grooming, Cyber Bullying, Cyberstalking are increasingly becoming common. Online games and social media websites are becoming places where these cyber crimes are being perpetuated.
5. Though most of the children do not have their own bank accounts they frequently use their parents’ accounts for doing online transactions for gaming, shopping, etc.
6. Criminals use several fraudulent tactics like calling to offer you benefits with fake identity etc. to steal money from the accounts.

Threats To Senior Citizens Due To Cybercrimes

1. The scope of cybercriminals targeting senior citizens can be explained by the lack of experience and skills in using computers/technology among the elderly, against the growing popularity of computer systems held by people of the same age, and the fact that many of them have Debit/credit cards.
2. In the past, people in their 70s and 80s hardly ever used computers. Nowadays, people of the same age have social media accounts, surf the Internet, and use smartphones.
3. Unlike their younger counterparts, seniors are less aware of cyberthreats and, in many cases, lack the tools and experience to identify attacks and fraudulent attempts.
4. Even elderly people with no access to computers or smartphones can fall victim to cybercrimes such as in the case where their personal details have been leaked from a database and sold to criminals who can then exploit.
5. The cybercriminals reach out to those people in a non-suspicious manner – sending a legitimate-looking email, offering to connect on Facebook or by using a legitimate website that offers them some vacation or other prize and seeking their credit card number.
6. Another favorite method of criminals is impersonating “official” entities – government officials, municipalities, and various authorities while exploiting the trust (or innocence) of those veteran citizens and fraudulently obtaining their details.
7. In addition, this population is exposed to “normal” cybercrime – phishing, infection by malware, and theft of personal information.
8. The only difference is that the likelihood of this population recognizing such an attack is extremely slim, as the ability of people in this age group to understand that they have been compromised and to seek assistance is minimal.

Non-policing Measures To Tackle Cybercrime Challenges

1. Tools and mechanisms for international cooperation include mutual legal assistance treaties, direct law enforcement cooperation, multi-agency partnerships, forums for informationsharing, and informal direct law enforcement cooperation.
2. Specific tools can be employed for detection and investigation, such as the use of digital forensic techniques, automated search, image analysis, and image databases, data mining, and analytics.
3. The private sector is also a key actor in the prevention of such crimes. Electronic service providers may engage in this respect through varying degrees of self-regulation, including by Internet service providers, self-monitoring by travel and tourism companies, and the creation of financial coalitions.
4. Parents, guardians, child educators, and civil society are a further vital component in combating the problem, including in supporting children in understanding and handling online risks, the “flagging” of certain material online, the creation of telephone hotlines for reporting, and contributions towards education and psycho-social methods of prevention.
5. For Senior Citizens, it’s worthwhile explaining to them some basic concepts and providing them with some examples of criminal or fraudulent online activities for them to learn from and avoid.
6. Any communication from a party that they do not know personally should be treated with caution. It’s wise to assume all profiles on social networks are fake until proven otherwise.
7. If there is any suspicion, the elderly should call “a responsible adult”: if requests are made to provide contact information, it is advisable to consult a person who is well-versed in security to see that the site is genuine.

If something looks too good to be true, it’s probably not true: This old adage is just as true in the online world as it is in the physical world. People should resist those tempting offers that pop up while browsing for weird apps that install themselves on the mobile device and avoid those people who offer big.